Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: David Greer, MD Dr. David Greer, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, directed a national survey of the leading neurology and neurosurgery programs to analyze policies for making brain death declarations. Though American medical institutions are not required to follow parameters for determining brain death, as published by the American Academy of Neurology, Dr. Greer’s report shows significant variation in the guidelines at surveyed institutions. Dr. Greer shares his perspectives, in the context of his research, with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. What are the two most common pitfalls in the determination of brain death? At a hospital where a proper determination cannot be made, what is the proper protocol?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: David Greer, MD Dr. David Greer, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, directed a national survey of the leading neurology and neurosurgery programs to analyze policies for making brain death declarations. Though American medical institutions are not required to follow parameters for determining brain death, as published by the American Academy of Neurology, Dr. Greer’s report shows significant variation in the guidelines at surveyed institutions. Why is significant variability within brain death protocol permitted from hospital to hospital? Have there been any medical legal precedents attributed to the inconsistency of these guidelines? What would be the most appropriate approach to addressing these concerns? Dr. Greer shares his thoughts, in the context of his research, with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: David Greer, MD Dr. David Greer, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, directed a national survey of neurology and neurosurgery programs to analyze policies for making brain death declarations. Though American medical institutions are not required to follow parameters for determining brain death, as published by the American Academy of Neurology, more explicit recommendations may help guide brain death protocol at hospitals across the country. Dr. Greer details his research with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: David Greer, MD Practice guidelines for determining brain death have long been established by the American Academy of Neurology. Is there uniformity across the United States in adhering to these standard guidelines? How might the proper clinical exam for brain death declarations be adversely persuaded? Dr. David Greer, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, directed a national survey of neurology and neurosurgery programs to analyze policies for making brain death declarations. Dr. Greer details his research with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD Guest: Shelly Batra, MD Dr. Shelly Batra talks about the reasons she shifted her focus from her private practice as a gynecologist, and a career as a best-selling physician-author and television personality, to fighting tuberculosis in India's urban slums. In India, this disease carries a stigma and, for women, can mean the loss of a job, ostracism from their own family and little hope of being married. Dr. Maurice Pickard hosts.

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD Guest: Shelly Batra, MD Dr. Shelly Batra, a gynecologist, author, and the medical director of the nonprofit Operation Asha, talks with host Dr. Maurice Pickard about her organization's fight against tuberculosis among New Delhi's impoverished and marginalized ragpickers in the urban slums of New Delhi, where adequate nutrition and sanitation are nonexistent. The clinic is staffed by paid employees from the same slums, who counsel patients and keep them coming back to continue their treatment. With donated funds, the clinic also offers incentives like blankets, food, and over-the-counter medicines to encourage patients to complete their treatment.

Host: Shira Johnson, MD Guest: Brian Durie, MD Join noted Hematologist and researcher Dr. Brian Durie as he is interviewed by Dr Shira Johnson in discussing the work of the International Myeloma Foundation.

Host: Shira Johnson, MD Guest: Brian Durie, MD Noted hematologist Dr. Brian Durie is interviewed by host Dr. Shira Johnson on the role of environmental toxins in the development of multiple myeloma (MM). Dr. Durie discusses the increased incidence of MM in firefighters who participated in rescue and cleanup efforts after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, as well as the changing demographics of the disease.

Host: Shira Johnson, MD Guest: Brian Durie, MD Dr. Shira Johnson welcomes Dr. Brian Durie for a discussion about current diagnostic modalities and therapeutic approaches for multiple myeloma (MM), which have transformed its course into a chronic and often manageable illness.

Host: Gary Kohn, MD Guest: Victor Gura, MD Dr. Victor Gura, attending physician at Cedar Sinal Medical Center, and inventor of the wearable kidney, discusses this "holy grail of dialysis", the motivations behind its creation, and the benefits observed in trials thus far.